For many of you, sending your child off to college can create feelings of excitement and anticipation but by the time you "drop them off" you may feel some anxiety and apprehension as well. Our hope is that you will use the information below as a part of your ongoing dialogue with your son or daughter throughout "that first year"!
What adjustments from high school to college do students face?
- College is more intense than high school.
- Students face higher expectations from college faculty.
- The 11-week quarters at MSOE move quickly; faster than the 15-16 week high school semester.
- There is a greater need in college to balance assignments, to plan for short and long-term projects.
- In high school, each hour is scheduled; in college ...
- Less time is spent in class.
- More unscheduled time is available each day.
- Each day's schedule is different.
- Students are solely responsible for balancing their time.
- Students must now plan each day, each week, each term. Time management skills become very important.
Many MSOE students never had to develop study skills in high school. They are so bright, so gifted that they could be successful in high school without those study skills. It's very difficult to succeed in college without them.
Many MSOE students were top students in high school; now they are surrounded by top students. Confidence in their academic abilities may take a hit.
New college students often carry unrealistic grade expectations, based on their high school grades. A "C" in college really is average. It's much more difficult to get an "A" or "B" in college than in high school. Of course, they will strive for an "A" or "B" but should not be discouraged by receiving a "C".
For students in the residence halls, this is their first time away from home. They face an additional set of adjustment issues.
Why is it that some new students don't make a successful adjustment to college?
Many feel they must do this "college thing" alone. They incorrectly believe that asking for help is a sign of weakness, an indication that they can't succeed.
New students frequently believe that they are the only student struggling and so are reluctant to seek assistance.
New students are often not accustomed to seeking out professors for help. High school teachers generally check on their students to insure they understand the course material. While professors at MSOE are anxious to help their students succeed, it's up to the students to ask for the additional help.
Students sometimes fail to recognize that the academic demands of college are greater than those in high school. What worked in high school - study habits, time-management techniques, quality of lecture notes, etc. will probably not work in college. They need to be open to making some of these changes.
Most high schools do not have formal tutoring programs. New MSOE students are often uninformed about the process and benefits of tutoring, despite our repeated attempts to promote our services to students!
What is the best advice you can share with your child to help them succeed in college?
They don't have to do this alone. Students need to know that there are many people on campus (faculty, staff, and other students) who are eager to help.
Those students who really want to succeed seek out the help they need as soon as possible.
To struggle, especially early, is common. They need to maintain the confidence they brought with them to college.
Students are very good at "putting on a face"; giving the outward impression that everything is okay while they deal with turmoil inside. Realistic self-assessments can help students decide to take action.
Personal problems can interfere with academic performance, while poor academic performance can create personal problems such as self-esteem issues, depression, anxiety, procrastination, etc. Students who are experiencing problems but are uncertain as to the cause should stop into Counseling Services , the Learning Resource Center or Student Support Services . Each of these areas can help them assess their problems, and then refer them to the appropriate help. Help is available - just ask!
Finally, to be successful in the classroom, students should become active learners. To do this, they should ...
- Attend ALL classes and labs.
- Participate in class discussions.
- Become active readers by adopting a specific reading strategy, such as the SQ3R method (Survey, Question, Read, Recite, Review). This will be discussed in their freshman orientation class.
- Become active note-takers by adopting a structured note-taking method, such as the Cornell note-taking method. This will also be discussed in their freshman orientation class.
- Take advantage of the individual and small-group tutoring available through the LRC.